Forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

Forming apparatus including a plurality of hydraulic jacks arranged in a particular configuration to exert a force on the marginal edges of adjacent hollow bodies so that the bodies may be precisely aligned for welding each to the other.

United States Patent Renshaw 1 June 10, 1975 [54] FORMING APPARATUS 3,259,964 7/1966 Engel 72/402 3,373,594 3/l968 Lane e [76] Inventor: Robln Renshaw, 344 Fairview Ave, 3374528 3/1968 Bowcutt N West Chicago, Ill. 1420,1413 H1969 Doerfer Jan. FISmET A l l l l .i [211 App]. No: 109,206 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 664,784 6/1963 Canada 269/26 52 U. Cl. 72 399; 72 453; 269 2 i51i lnt c1 B2ld 7/0; Lanham 58 Field of Search 72/399, 402, 453, 295, j P P 72/316; 269/26; 254/93 R 93 L; 2l9/158, ttorney, Agent, or F1rm rancls Drumm l6l; 113/120 QA; 29/471.l

[57] ABSTRACT [56] References Cited Forming apparatus including a plurality of hydraulic UNITED STATES PATENTS jacks arranged in a particular configuration to exert a 1,890,016 12/1932 Smith 72/402 force on the marginal edges of adjacent hollow bodies 2.302.420 11/1942 p an-.1 5 /93 R so that the bodies may be precisely aligned for welding 2.314404 3/1943 Katcher 188/322 each to the 0th 2,679,278 5/l954 Clark 29/200 B 2,682.908 7/I954 Schultz 269/26 10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures l 0 ll O m Ell o a Q PATENTEDJUH 10 1975 SHEET ROBIN PATENTEDJUH 10 ms ROBIN RENSHAW PATENTEDJUH 10 1975 Slut:

awucmfo v RENSHAW ROBIN PATENTEDJUNIO I975 SHEET JH/UQHTQ/L ROBIN REN SHAW FORMING APPARATUS This invention relates to forming apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for shaping the marginal edges of hollow bodies, such as adjacent hollow cylindrical preforms for tanks.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for accurately aligning the confronting marginal edges of adjacent hollow cylindrical tank preforms so that they may be accurately welded each to the other.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the stated type wherein each jack is connected to a hydraulic cylinder and in which pump means are provided to actuate the hydraulic cylinders for simultaneous operation of the jacks so that the jacks are actuated equally regardless of the resistance presented to a particular jack.

A further object of the invention is to provide a source of fluid under pressure and a plurality of hydraulic cylinders in communication with the source of fluid under pressure, the hydraulic cylinders each being connected to a hydraulic jack by suitable conduit means whereby actuation of the hydraulic cylinders effects actuation of the jacks in a precise manner despite any variations in resistance offered by the object being formed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic forming fixture having a plurality of radially inwardly extending jacks each having a ram operable upon actuation of hydraulic circuitry to engage a hollow object. such as a hollow cylindrical tank preform. to force the preform into a precise circular cross section.

A further object of the invention is to provide hydraulic forming apparatus in accordance with the preceding objects wherein the rams of the jacks engage simultaneously the adjacent marginal edges of confronting tank preforms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system for controlling the operation of a hydraulic fixture of the above type so that the above functions can be performed without danger to operating personnel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel hydraulic jack electrically insulated to prevent seizure due to welding activities.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a forming apparatus made in accordance with the pres ent invention shown in operative position to support apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view of one of the jacks forming a part of the forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the present forming apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the electrical circuit for controlling the operation of the present forming appa ratus',

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the hydraulic circuit for controlling the hydraulic apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an elevational sectional view of one of the cylinders for the supporting rolls for the preformed sections;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view illustrating the means for synchronizing the roller support arms; and

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the forming apparatus of the present invention is indicated by reference numeral 10 and is illustrated in association with a tank of the type forming a part of a railroad tank car having four hollow cy lindrical segments 12, 14, 16 and I8 and end caps 20 and 24. The sections are welded along weld lines 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34 to form the tank as illustrated. The manner in which the seams are welded and the role that the forming apparatus of the invention plays in this welding is an important part of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fixture 10 is aligned with the seam 30, the other seams already having been tack welded. The fixture 10 is mounted in a carriage 36 mounted on wheels 38 which roll on tracks 40 to position the fixture horizontally with respect to a fixed support 42. The opposite end of the tank preform illustrated in FIG. 1 is supported by a carriage 44 having wheels 46. It will be apparent that the carriage 44 may be adjusted to support a tank preform for any desired length and that the carriage 36 may be moved horizontally to effect the final seam on a tank of the type illustrated. It will be appreciated that the present fixture may be moved to accommodate tank preforms of varying lengths. The wheels of the carriage 36 and the carriage 44 may be suitably powered by hydraulic motors to be described hereinafter.

The carriage 36 is provided with a pair of roll support assemblies 48 and 50 at each side of the fixture 10. The roll support assemblies 48 and 50 are mounted on wheels 52 and 54 which travel on tracks 56 and 58.

FIG. 10 illustrates a modified form of the invention in which jacks 414 are circumferentially disposed about a mandrel 416 to effect forming by contacting the inner periphery of a hollow body.

Referring now to FIG. 9, also mounted on tracks 56 and 58 are the wheels 46 of the carriage 44.

At the right side of FIG. 1 is illustrated a fixed support 60 having a pair of suitably powered rollers 62, only one of which is shown, for rotating a tank preform so that the longitudinal seams are out of phase. It will be noted that the rollers 62 are coplanar with the axis of the tank preform as are rollers 64 forming a part of the support assembly 60. The support assembly 50 is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 9 which includes a pair of arms 66 and 68 pivotally mounted at 70 and having secured to the lower end thereof gear segments 72 and 74 in mesh each with the other to assure simultaneous movement. The arms 66 may be raised by hydraulic cylinder 76 while arm 68 may be raised by hydraulic cylinder 78. Once raised, the arm 66 may be locked in position by means of a lock nut 80 threadedly received on a screw 82, the unthreaded lower end of which being slidably received in a tube 86 which is pivotally connected to the carriage 36 at 88. In like manner, the arm 68 may be locked in position by lock nut 90 threadedly received on a screw 92, the lower end of which being slidably received in a tube 94 which is pivotally connected to the carriage 36 at 96.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the fixture is illustrated in elevation and includes a base 98 having pivotally connected thereto a segmental section 100 and a seg mental section I02 which may be locked to the segmental section 100 by a locking pin 104. The segmental section 100 is raised and lowered by hydraulic cylinder 105 and the segmental section I02 may be raised and lowered by a similarly disposed hydraulic cylinder not shown. Referring also to FIG. I, mounted in circumferentially spaced axially extended relation at one side of the fixture 10 are a plurality of hydraulic jacks 108 each of which has a slidably mounted plunger 110. Connected to each plunger 110 is a ram ll2 operable upon actuation of the jacks to engage the outer periphery of the marginal edges of the adjacent tank preforms as illustrated in FIG. 1. According to the present invention, the plunger 110 is protected while in extended position by means of a shield 114 which is coaxial with the plunger 110 and is mounted in spaced relation thereto by means of tapered bushings 116 and 118.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it wil be noted that the shield 114 is electrically insulated from the jack 108 by means of insulation beads 118. As viewed in FIG, 2, the jack is actuated by introduction of fluid under pressure in a manner hereafter described through inlet 120.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is illustrated in sectional elevation the lock pin arrangement 104 which includes a hydraulic cylinder 122 having a plunger 124 connected to a slidable lock pin 136 which is movable, upon energization of its associated solenoid, to move to the left, as viewed in FIG. 8 into a socket 138. The cylinder I22 is mounted on one of the segments 100 or 102 and the socket I38 is mounted on the other segment. It will be appreciated that the lock pin 136 is moved to locking position when the segmental sections are in the position illustrated in FIG. 4 and is moved at the unlocked position illustrated when opening of the segmental sections is desired by actuation of the cylinder 105.

Referring now to the control system for the present invention, reference is now made to FIGS. 6 and 7 wherein 140 represents an electric motor and master switch contacts 142, overload switches 144, fuses I46 and master disconnect switches 148. Connected to this circuit, which desirably is 440 volts, is a step down transformer 150 which changes the voltage to 110 volts for the control circuit. The control circuit includes conductors 152 and 154 protected by fuses I56 and 158. To operate the apparatus of the invention, the start switch is energized to start the motor 140 and this motor and its associated hydraulic pump remain operating continuously to provide a source of fluid under pressure. A switch 160 marked raise is closed to energize control relay 162 for simultaneous energization of solenoids HI and I72. Fluid under pressure flows from the fluid source through conduit 300 and 302 so that direct fluid communication is provided to conduit 304, 306, manifold 308, parallel conduits 310, through pilot check valves 312, through conduits 314 to slave cylinders 316. Simultaneously, fluid flows through con duits 322 to the jacks 320 to completely fill the hydraulic circuit including the jacks and the slave cylinders. The plungers of the jacks 320 remain in the retracted position illustrated because they have previously been urged to that position by fluid under pressure through conduit 326 (in a manner hereafter described) and this pressure is maintained by a pilot check valve 328. To

permit movement of the slave cylinders to the left, pilot check valve 330 is tripped by fluid flowing through pilot line 332 in a manner hereafter described. Pressurebuilds up in the jacks pressure builds pressure switch 334 is closed, at about 250 psi. and effecting the energization of control relay 336, de-energizing control relay 162, and thus de-energizing solenoids 171 and 172. When this occurs, the circuit is energized for a green light 338 and a unified circuit is indicated.

The switch is again actuated for energization of control relay 340 for energization of solenoid 163. When this occurs, fluid under pressure is directed through conduit 342, through pilot check 330 to the left side of the master cylinder 344. When this occurs, fluid is forced into the master cylinder thus forcing the plunger of the master cylinder to the right. Since this plunger is mechanically connected to the plungers of the slave cylinders, the slave cylinders are forced to the right thus exerting a fluid pressure against the bottom surfaces of the plungers of the jacks 320, as illustrated in FIG. 7. To make this possible, the pilot check valve 328 is tripped by fluid flowing through pilot line 348. Fluid from the top of the jacks, as illustrated, flows back to sump because of the position of solenoid 163. In order for all of this to occur, limit switch 350 must be closed. This assures that the locking cylinder 104 is in locked condition.

Then switch 352 is closed for energization of control relay 364 and energization of solenoid 366 and solenoid 161 simultaneously. Under this condition, fluid under pressure flows through conduit 326 to the top of the jacks, as viewed in FIG. 7.

At the same time, the pilot check valve 330 is tripped by fluid flowing through pilot line 332 and fluid is allowed to flow out of the master cylinder.

Reset switch 368 is then pressed to energize control relay 370 and thus energize solenoid 372. Simultaneously, control relay 364 and solenoid 366 are energized. The master pilot check valve 330 is tripped and the jacks are fully retracted. The fluid pressure in the circuit then opens pressure switch 372 thus deenergizing control relay 364 and solenoid 366 and deenergizing control relay 370 and solenoid 372.

Since the check valve 328 prevents back flow of fluid from the jacks, fluid is automatically replenished because fluid flowing through the pilot check valves drives the slave cylinder plungers to the left. Furthermore, the system may be selectively bled if desired during the operation of the cycle. This is done by directing fluid to the top of jacks as illustrated. Fluid is forced through the pilot check valves to sump without apply ing undue pressure to slave cylinders.

The operation of control relays 374, 378, 382, 386, 390, 394, 410, 406, and 409 and their associated solenoids 376, 380, 384, 388, 392, 396, 404, 408, and 412 will be apparent in view of the legends.

I claim:

1. Forming apparatus comprising a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, a master cylinder, including a plunger, a plurality of slave cylinders, a first conduit means connecting said source to said master cylinder, said plunger means connecting said master cylinder to said slave cylinders, a hydraulic jack fluidly connected to each of said slave cylinders, said jacks being operable in response to actuation of said slave cylinders by said master cylinder, said jacks being disposed in spaced relation about the periphery of a hollow body and being operable upon actuation to form said body into a predetermined configuration.

2. Forming apparatus in accordance with claim I wherein said jacks are disposed about the outer periphery of the hollow body.

3. Forming apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said jacks are disposed about the inner periphery of the hollow body.

4. Forming apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided for positioning and supporting the hollow body for shaping and welding.

5. Forming apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said apparatus is adapted to confine a plurality of hollow cylindrical bodies in coaxial relation in abutment each with the other and in which said jacks are arranged to engage the confronting marginal edges of the cylinders to shape the cylinders to a precise circular cross section for welding.

6. Forming apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein means are provided for advancing the hollow cylinders to form a position and holding said cylinders in position for forming.

7. Forming apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein a fixture is provided for maintaining said jacks, said fixture having pivotally mounted segmental sec' tions, and means for selectively opening said sections for reception of a hollow body in position for forming and means for closing said segmental sections so that said jacks are circumferentially spaced in the fixture and radially extending so that upon actuation the forming of the hollow body to precise circularity is assured.

8. Forming apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said forming fixture is mounted on a movable carriage and wherein rollers are provided for holding the adjacent ends of the hollow cylinders in position for forming.

9. Forming apparatus in accordance with claim I wherein each of said jacks is provided with a shielding sleeve to prevent damage by welding debris.

l0. Forming apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said shielding sleeve is electrically insulated from said jacks. 

1. Forming apparatus comprising a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, a master cylinder, including a plunger, a plurality of slave cylinders, a first conduit means connecting said source to said master cylinder, said plunger means connecting said master cylinder to said slave cylinders, a hydraulic jack fluidly connected to each of said slave cylinders, said jacks being operable in response to actuation of said slave cylinders by said master cylinder, said jacks being disposed in spaced relation about the periphery of a hollow body and being operable upon actuation to form said body into a predetermined configuration.
 2. Forming apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said jacks are disposed about the outer periphery of the hollow body.
 3. Forming apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said jacks are disposed about the inner periphery of the hollow body.
 4. Forming apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein means are provided for positioning and supporting the hollow body for shaping and welding.
 5. Forming apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said apparatus is adapted to confine a plurality of hollow cylindrical bodies in coaxial relation in abutment each with the other and in which said jacks are arranged to engage the confronting marginal edges of the cylinders to shape the cylinders to a precise circular cross section for welding.
 6. Forming apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein means are provided for advancing the hollow cylinders to form a position and holding said cylinders in position for forming.
 7. Forming apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein a fixture is provided for maintaining said jacks, said fixture having pivotally mounted segmental sections, and means for selectively opening said sections for reception of a hollow body in position for forming and means for closing said segmental sections so that said jacks are circumferentially spaced in the fixture and radially extending so that upon actuation the forming of the hollow body to prEcise circularity is assured.
 8. Forming apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said forming fixture is mounted on a movable carriage and wherein rollers are provided for holding the adjacent ends of the hollow cylinders in position for forming.
 9. Forming apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said jacks is provided with a shielding sleeve to prevent damage by welding debris.
 10. Forming apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said shielding sleeve is electrically insulated from said jacks. 